DESCRIPTION

I keep encountering errors, lockups, or the program closes unexpectedly when I run Chief Architect on my Mac computer. What might be the cause?

CAUSE

There are a number of different reasons why Chief Architect may be encountering errors or suddenly exiting, including the Mac not meeting the System Requirements for running the software, needing to have updated drivers (particularly for the video card), or a third party application may be conflicting with the software's operation.

RESOLUTION

Since there are a number of possible causes for the undesirable software behavior, some basic troubleshooting is required in order to identify the reason for a particular issue. Please follow all of the recommendations in this article in order.

Please note that running in an emulator, or virtual machine environment, such as Parallels, VirtualBox, or VMWare Fusion is NOT supported for any version.

If your Mac does not meet the minimum system requirements for your version, then you should consider installing on an alternate system that does meet, or exceed, the requirements.

In addition, it is important to be aware that working on files stored on a network server, external hard drive, or usb flash drive device is NOT supported. When working with Chief Architect files, always make sure they are saved on the local machine's hard drive to avoid slowness, file corruption, and data loss. To learn more, please see theGuide to File Management.

Having automated backups that run when files are not in use to back up to a network server or cloud drive is a great idea to ensure that in the event of a computer crash, hard drive failure, computer theft, fire or other natural disaster that you do not lose your important files. To learn more, please see Implementing a Data Backup Strategy.

STEP 2 - Download the most recent program update

If your computer meets the System Requirements for running the software, then the next step is to make sure you are using the most current program version of your Chief Architect software program.

In Chief Architect and Home Designer software programs, you can verify whether you have the latest program update by selecting Help> Download Program Updates from the program menu.

If you have the most recent update, then the updates page will state this.

If you are not running the most recent update, then selecting this option under the Help menu will take you to the most recent update for your version of Chief Architect. Follow the instructions to download and install it.

You can also access the Program Updates page on the website at the appropriate link below for your version.

If your Mac computer meets or exceeds the System Requirements, and you are running the most recent update available for your software, then these additional basic troubleshooting steps should be tested.

Check to see if your video card's driver needs updated. On a Mac computer, these are typically included as part of operating system updates.

To make sure that your hardware drivers are up-to-date you must make sure that your operating system is up-to-date by selecting the Apple menu, clicking on About this Mac, then select the Software Update... button.

If your Mac has both an integrated chipset and an actual video card that it switches between for better battery life, then you may want to disable off Automatic Graphics Switching so that the best graphics will always be used.
Instructions on how to accomplish this can be located on Apple's website at: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202043

If the slowness or exiting on the Mac appears to be particularly linked to 3D camera views, dialogs which display object previews, or accessing particular objects in the Library Browser where a preview is displayed in the panes below, and you have already followed the previous steps in this article, then go through the steps to Adjust the Render Preferences in your version of the software.

If you are using a trackpad or wireless mouse, plug in a wired mouse and attempt to use it to navigate the software instead. If there is no change to the behavior you are seeing when using a wired mouse, you can return to your preferred input device.

If you are using an iMac, with a 5k monitor, and Chief Architect is full screen, reduce Chief Architect's window size (so that it is not full screen) and then test to see if Chief Architect runs without issues.

If running Chief Architect so that it is not full screen resolves the slowness or software failures you had been seeing previously, you can either continue to run in this configuration, or consider lowering your monitor's resolution, as discussed in this Apple support article: https://support.apple.com/kb/PH19043

If the program locks up specifically when attempting to send a view to the Layout*, Force Quit and relaunch the application. Then, Open the saved layout file, or start a New Layout. Keep the layout view within the same window as the Chief Architect program, and do not drag it outside of the main window or move it to a secondary monitor. With the layout open, and in the same window, attempt to resend the view from the plan file.*Chief Architect Premier, Chief Architect Interiors and Home Designer Pro only.

STEP 4 - Restart in Safe Mode

After testing the basic troubleshooting steps above, if you are still experiencing issues with the operation of your Chief Architect software program on a Mac computer, then you should try restarting the system in Safe Mode by following the instructions in this Apple support article: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262

Once you have completed the Safe Boot instructions, launch Chief Architect and test to see whether the issue still occurs.

If starting up your Mac in Safe Mode resolves the behavior, and if it continues to fail when restarting up the Mac normally, then there is likely a conflict with a third party application running on your system.

STEP 5 - Modify Accessibility Settings

The most common third party application conflicts we have recorded have to do with software that modifies the Accessibility settings of the Mac.

To troubleshoot if this is the case, first Save your work then select File> Exit to close out of the Chief Architect software if you have it open.

Repairing disk permissions in El Capitan 10.11 and newer can no longer be accomplished via the Disk Utility.
Instead, please search online for specific instructions on repairing disk permissions using the command line in the Terminal utility, or contact your Apple technician directly to assist with this process.

After Repairing Disk Permissions, you must complete the following.
1) Uninstall the software.
2) Shut down and restart your computer.
3) Re-install the software.
4) Then test to see whether or not the software failure continues to occur after completing these steps.

STEP 7 - Create a New User Account

If none of the above steps have resolved the issues on your Mac, then you should create a brand new Administrator User Account, log in using that Account, and attempt to use the software using the new account to test whether or not you continue to experience problems with regards to running the program.

Finally, if you continue to experience problems with the software closing unexpectedly on a Mac after going through all of these steps, please contact our Technical Support department directly, and include ALL of the following files listed below in order to continue troubleshooting.

To report the issue to Chief Architect Technical Support for additional troubleshooting

When the error or crash occurs, it is a good idea to take a moment to write down what you were doing just prior to the error, including what kind of view was open, what tools you were using, and what objects you were drawing or editing.

If the issue only seems to occur in one particular file, use the Backup Entire Plan tool to create a folder with a copy of the file in which the error occurs, along with all referenced files.

Give the ticket a short but descriptive title, In the text of the ticket, type a detailed description of the problem, including the exact steps that caused the error to occur if at all possible.

The more detailed you are, the more likely we will be to reproduce the error and identify the problem.

Click the Browse button and attach the Backup, Screenshot, System Information, andMessage Log to your ticket, then submit it.
It is possible that Technical Services may need additional information regarding the issue, which they will request via a reply in the Online Support Center.

Note: Some of the requested information may identify you, as well as specific information about your computer, but it will also help us determine the source of the problem. Please be assured that any files submitted to Chief Architect Technical Support will be used for troubleshooting purposes only.